Method and apparatus for inserting eye-bushings



W. M. HANSON. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING EYE BUSHINGS APPLICATION FILED MAR.24,1919- Patented July 13, 1920.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING EYE BUSHINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2411919. 1,346, 199, Patented July 13, 1920.

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WALTER M. HANSON, or KENosHA, Wisconsin.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING EYE-BUSHINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed March 24, 1919. Serial No. 284,865.

formed by bending the end of the main leaf.

circularly to provide an e e having a generally, cylindrical form. hese eyes, however, are notcomplete circles or cylinders, since the spring leaf extends from OIIGfSlClb of the eye at a tangent to the circle about which the extremity has been bent to form the eye. The material being resilient and the extremity'f-ree, it is a difficult and expensive job, to ream or drill out the eye into true cylindrical form. It has therefore been common practice to make theeyes and bushings of such size thatthe bushing-can be machined and pressed'into the eye without machining the eye. But the spring leaf is invariably slightly concaved in cross section, and the surfaces somewhat irregular. Therefore, it is impossible by this method to secure effective contact between the bushing and the eye throughout the length of the bushing, and it has also been found that the force required to press the bushing into place, and secure effective anchorage frequently distorts the bushing, and makes it necessary to ream out the interior in an effort to provide a cylindrical opening for the pivot bolt. Such reaming necessarily weakens the bushing, and the resilient'pressure of the eye thereorr frequently causes additional distortion, thereby making itimpossible to secure a truly cylindrical bearing.

The object of my invention is to providea method whereby exact contouring of the eye becomes unnecessary, machining the exterior surface of the bushing is also eliminated, and distortion of the bushing, by subjecting it to pressure, is wholly avoided, thereby making it unnecessary to subject it to finishing operations after it has been secured within the'eye. Also toprovide means for accurately positioning the bushing within an eye of larger size than the diameter of the bushing, and anchoring it therein by a body of cast metal inserted while molten and under pressure, to secure perfect contacts at all points, and a continuoussupport for the bushing on all sides, regardless of the size or shape of the eye formed in the spring leaf. Also to provide means whereby'the bushings in the respective ends of the spring may easily be positioned and anchored in exact parallelism.

My invention includes means for avoiding a release or looseningof the cast metal from the bushing and the eye of the spring during the cooling or chilling period; for doweling or anchoring the body of cast metal within theeye, in such amanner that it cannot turn or slip out, even if the adhesion should be broken; for also anchoring the bushing within the cast metal; for easily removing and replacing worn or defective bushings at small expense, and for expediting the adjustment of the springs andbushings preparatory to castingoperations, and the re lease of the same after a casting operation, whereby a succession of such operations may be performed with minimum loss of time.

My invention relates not only to the discovery of a method by which the above mentioned results can be attained, but also includes apparatus designed to practice of such method.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus for carrying out my process, as viewed from the side occupied by the die casting machines, but with said machines removed and a portion of the connections broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in end elevation, showing the left hand end of the apparatus' illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, drawn on line 33 of Fig. 1. V I

Fig. 4 is a front elevation. of the parts shown in Fig. 3, with the positioning plate and sprue cutter removed. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one end of the apparatus, showing also a fragment of the die casting machine, including the sprue nozzle and valve. I y 7 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary viewin'end elevation, showing the clamping cam and associated mechanism. V

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a spring eye,

facilitate the Patented July 13,1920.

partly in vertical section, showing the manner in which the bushing is anchored.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, on line 88 of Big. 7.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The apparatus illustrated is particularly designed to'facilitate the insertion of eye bushings in vehicle springs, it being deemed suilicient to illustrate and explain my process as applied for that purpose. Its avail-- ability for the insertion of bushings in other devices and mechanisms will be readily un-' derstood by those familiar with this art.

In the use of my process for inserting eye bushings in springs, I provide means for supporting the spring in a predetermined relation to a support for a bushing, whereby the bushing may be held by the support within the eye formed on the end of the main leaf of the spring in the position which the bushing is to occupy relative to the eye, after it has been anchored therein, or when it is in use. I preferably roughly position the bushing within the eye, and subsequently clamp it and accurately dowel it from both ends, in such a manner as to not only hold the bushing and the eye in the correct position, but to also close the space, or annular cavity, between the bushing and the interior surface of the wall of the eye at all points, except one small opening through which a body of molten metal may be injected for a casting operation.

After having thus positioned the bushing within the eye, I clamp the spring and the bushing supporting devices to the sprue nozzle of a die casting machine, with the nozzle outlet in registry with the small opening above referred to, and I then inject a body of molten metal, under considerable pressure, into the annular cavity between the bushing and the wall of the eye, the pressure being sufficient to cause a complete filling of the cavity by the molten metal before chilling takes place. After the casting operation has been completed, the sprue is cut off, and the spring released from the clamping and positioning members, with the bushing held in position by the 'metallic filling.

In clamping and positioning the spring and the bushing preparatory to the casting operation, I preferably employ wedging devices adapted to slightly expand the eye during the clamping operation, and by releasing these devices immediately after the casting operation has been completed, I utilize the resilient reaction of the material of --which the spring is composed to clampingly spring eye will. therefore maintain intimate pressure contact with the cooling metal of the filling so that adhesions will not be broken or gaps permitted to form, such as might otherwise allow the filling to become loose. But I employ, as a filling material, an alloy of Babbitt metal, which has a low co eliicient of expansion and contraction, and therefore it is not difficult to secure perfect anchorage within the eye, and particularly so in view of the fact that spring eyes are not completely circular in form, but are somewhat eccentric at the point where the extremity of the leaf is brought into contact with the surface of the spring, the latter extending tangentially to the circle about which the end portion of the leaf is curved to form the eye.

As stated in the above description, both the spring and the bushing are positioned preparatory to the clamping operation, the object of positioning the spring being to hold the latter with itslongitudinal axis transverse to the axis of the bushing. After the bushing has been anchored in position by the cast metal filling, its positioning members, at least a portion thereof, will still be utilized to position the spring preparatory to inserting a bushing in the eye at the other end of the spring, in such a manner that the axis of the second bushing will be exactly parallel with the axis of the first one. This can easily be accomplished by proy'iding a spring support of sufficient length to permit doweling devices to simultaneously engage both ends of the spring, whereby after one bushing has been inserted and anchored by cast metal, the other bushing may be quickly anchored in the same manner, with the certainty that each is parallel with the other.

lVhile it is possible to so position the spring and the bushing that casting operntions may be simultaneously performed. at both ends of the spring, I prefer to perform these casting operations in sequence, for the reason that variations in length and curvature of springs of the same type are such that it is more convenient to first clamp one spring eye to the sprue nozzle of a die casting machine, cast the bushing in position, and subsequently shift the spring to bring the other eye into engagement with a sprue nozzle for a subsequent casting operation whether the same sprue nozzle be employed for both operations, or whether two die casting machines or sprue nozzles are employed in spaced relation to each other at a distance substantially equal to the length of the spring.

I preferably provide bushings A having their outer surfaces irregularly contoured in order to secure anchorage in the cast metal to a sufficient extent to retain the bushings, and prevent them from rotating in the cast metal, if the metal should shrink away from them during the casting operation, or if the adhesion betweenthe bushing and the cast metal should be otherwise disturbed or weakened. This can be easily accomplished by providing the bushing with one or more projections 41. I r 7 Apparatus.

A great many different forms of apparatus may be employed for carrying out the process above described. The drawings are merely intended to illustrate a simple and,

inexpensive form of apparatus, designed for this purpose, 1n whlch a main slide 1 is mounted upon a set of supportlng rollers 2 and carries a pair of movable heads 3, adapted to slide longitudinally upon the main slide 1 to which the heads are anchored by interlocking projections 4L and 5. Each of the head pieces 3 is provided with a doweling pin 7, adapted to fit within the bushing A. The heads 3 are also provided with annular or arcuate ribs 9, the outer surfaces of which are adapted to fit the margin of the spring eye B, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. These surfaces of the ribs 9 being concavo conical, and adapted to move with a wedging action against the margin of the spring, (2'. 6., against the end of the eye), whereby the spring is clamped against the head 3 with the doweling pin? and bushing A therein, the wall of the eye will be spaced.

from the bushing on all sides by the rib or arcuate rib sections 9.- 7

It willbe observed in Fig. 3 that the doweling pin 7 does not extend entirely through the bushing, and it is preferably provided with an axial socket to receive the reduced portion 11 of a cooperating doweling pin 12, carried by a sprue cutting clamping plate 13. The clamping plate 13 is also provided with annular or arcuate ribs or rib sections 15, corresponding with the rib sections 9 in form and mode of operation. The plate 13 is preferably provided with a handle 17, whereby it may be rotated upon the axis of the doweling member 12 for a sprue cutting operation. The plate 13 is also provided with a spherically rounded socket 19, having an axial'conical extension 20 leading to an opening at 21 through the rib 15, this'opening registering therefore with the annular space between the bushing A and the spring B. 3

It will further be observed in Figs. 3 and 4 that the head 3 is provided with a shoulder 25 having a cylindrically rounded socket 26, adapted to receive the lower portion of the spring eye when the spring is adjusted to a pair of heads 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The rib or rib sections 9 on the head 3 are so located that when they are initially forced into the spring eye they will lift it slightly from the socketed portion 26 of the shoulder 25, so that subsequently when the clamping pressure is sufficient to expand the spring eye, it will again be brought in contact with the base of said'socket, or substantially so.

The die casting: machines are located. in

front of the bed frames 28," and are each provided with a sprue nozzle 29, adapted to fit the socket 19 in the associated clamping and sprue cutting plate 13, when the main slide 1 and head 3 are adjusted in proper position. It will not be material whether the head 3, which supports the 'other end of the spring 3, is in registry with its associated die casting nozzle or not, un-

lessboth vcasting operations are to be simultaneously performed. But at the end of the spring which is in registry with the nozzle, andat which the casting operation is to be performed, the mainslide 1 will then be subjected to a heavy pressure from the rear side to force it forwardly on its supporting rollers 2, until the sprue nozzle '29 enters the registering socket 19, and stops the forward movement of the main slide. The pressure will then be exerted to clamp the spring eye between the sprue nozzle and head 3 for a casting operation.

The main slide 1 is loosely supported on the rollers 2, and movable both longitudinally and transversely thereon. The rollers 2 areournaled in bed frames 30, and each of these bed frames is provided with an ust able mounting 33 on its rear end portion which supports a clamping cam 34 adapted to be'actuated by a crank 35. A clamping block '36 is adapted to be actuated by .the cam into and out of clamping relation to the rear face of'the main slide 1. These .with the bushings A and sprue cutters 13 in place. The cams being grooved, are adapted to actuate the blocks in the retracting as well as the advancing movements. The blocks 36 have oscillatory heads 13 pivoted thereto, and provided with cylindrically rounded bearing surfaces, thus insuring equal pressure upon the top and bottom rails 44 of the main slide 1.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 it will be observed that the space within the eye B'of the spring C and surrounding the bushing A is completely filled with the cast metal filling 20, the latter having beenforced into the space (Z at the junction of the spring end with the body of the leaf. It is possible to fill this space completely by injecting the molten metal under considerable pressure. The pressure which I employ is about six hundred pounds to the square inch.

After the spring and bushing have been clamped. to the sprue nozzle, it is merely necessary to apply the pressure to the molten metal in the crucible, and open the valve at 46, (preferably simultaneously), whereupon the annular cavity in the spring eye will be instantly filled. Thereupon the clamping head will be retracted, and the shearing plate 13 rotated by means of the handle 17, to shear the sprue, after which the clamping block will be wholly retracted to permit the remo 'al. of the spring, or if the other bushing is to be anchored, the main slide 1 may then be readjusted to bring such bushing and the inclosing eye therefor into registry with the companion sprue nozzle for a second casting operation, while leaving the first bushing upon its supporting dowels to insure parallelism. I

By having the shear plate dowels 12 of such size as to fill the bushing for a short distance, I prevent the molten metal from flowing into the bushing, if the spring should. be of greater width than the length of the bushing, or that of the combined length of the dowels 7 and 12.

To replace a bushing it is merely necessary to heat the eye until the Babbitt-metal filling is softened, whereupon the bushing and the filling may be readily driven out.

I claim 1. The method of positioning and anchoring eye bushings in metal eye pieces, consisting in inserting a bushing therein of smaller external diameter than the interior diameter of the eye piece, doweling the bushing and the eye piece in fixed re lation to each other, and filling the space between the bushing and the eye piece with molten metal under pressure sutlicient to torce the metal into crevices and into contact with irregularly contoured surfaces for anchorage purposes.

2. The method of positioning and anchoring eye bushings in metal eye pieces, consisting in providing bushings and eye pieces having opposing irregular surfaces of different diameters, positioning the bush ings within the eye pieces, and filling the intervening spaces with molten metal under pressure sulficient to insure conformity of the filling with said irregular surfaces.

3. The method of positioning and anchoring eye bushings in parallel relation to each other within the eye pieces of devices having a plurality of such eye pieces, consisting in providing a temporary paralleling support for the bi'lshings within the eye pieces, positioning the eye pieces in spaced relation to the exterior surfaces of the bushings, and filling the spaces between the bushings and the eye pieces with molten metal.

l. The method of positioning and anchoring eye bushings in parallel relation to each other within eye pieces at the respective ends or a spring, consisting in mounting the bushings upon parallel dowel pins, inserting the bushings in the eye pieces, and supporting them therein on said dowel pins, positioning the eye pieces and casting a body of metal therein in anchoring relation to the bushings and eye pieces, and then withdrawing the dowel pins.

5. The method. of positioning and an.- choring eye bushings in parallel relation to each other within eye pieces at the respective ends of a spring, consisting in mounting the bushings upon parallel do .vel pins, inserting one of the bushings in an eye piece and doweling the eye piece with reference thereto, casting a body of metal in anchoring relation to the bushing and eye piece, and subsequently repeating said inserting, doweling, and casting operations upon the other bushing and eye piece, while the anchored bushing is still doweled upon its supporting pin.

6. Apparatus for positioning and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, comprising the combination of a support provided with doweling members for the bushings and other doweling members for the eye pieces, means for closing the ends oi cavities formed between the eye pieces and the bushings, and means for filling such cavities with molten metal.

7. Apparatus for positioning and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, comprising the combination of a support provided with doweling members for the bushings and other doweliue' members ior the eye pieces, means tor closing the ends of: cavities formed between the eye pieces and the bushings, and means for filling such cavities with molten metal, said supper; beirg adjustable to position the bushings within the eye pieces.

8. rpparatus for positioning and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, comprising the combination of a support provided with doweling members for the bushings and other doweling members for the eye pieces, means for closing the ends of cavities formed between the eye pieces and the bushings, and means for filling such cavities with molten metal, said support being adjustable to position the bushings within the eye pieces, and to more the bushings into and out of contact with the filling means. 7

Apparatus for positioning and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, comprising the sprue connecting the filling withthemeans for inserting the filling.

10. Apparatus for positioning and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, comprising the combination of a support provided with a doweling pin adapted to fit within the bushing and to support it within the eye piece, means for clamping the eye piece to a sprue nozzle, and means for closing the space between the bushing and the eye piece at both ends of the bushing, except at th nozzle outlet.

11. Apparatus for positioning and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, comprising the combination of a support provided with a doweling pin adapted to fit within the bushing and to support it within the eye piece, means for clamping the eye piece to a sprue nozzle, and means for closing the space between the bushing and the eye piece at both ends of the bushing, except at the nozzle outlet, said closing means including a rotary member adapted to cut the sprue after the retraction of the clamping means.

12. Apparatus for positioning and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, comprising the combination of a support adapted tohold a pair of bushings in parallel positions, means for positioning eye pieces with the bushings positioned therein, means for closing the ends of the spaces between the outer surfaces of the bushings and the inner surfaces of the eye pieces, and means for filling said spaces with molten metal while the bushings are held in parallel relation to each other by said support.

13. Apparatus for positioning and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, comprising the combination of a support adapted to hold a pair of: bushings in parallel positions, means for positioning eye pieces with the bushings positioned therein, means for closing the endsof the spaces between the outer surfaces of the bushings and the inner surfaces of the eye pieces, and means for filling said spaces with molten metal while the bushings are held in parallel relation to each other .by said support, said support being adjustable to carry each eye piece into and out of clamping relation to a sprue nozzlc included in the filling means.

14. Apparatus for positioning and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, including the combination of an adjustable head provi ded with a dowel pin adapted to fit within a bushing, and a concentric areuate rib adapted to lit the margin of the eye piece,

, piece, and means for otherwise closing the ends of said space. a

Apparatus for positionmg and ancnoriug bushings in eye pieces, the interior diameters of which are larger than the ex terior diameters ot-the bushings, including the combination of a support, a doweling member thereon adapted -to support the bushing, another doweling member thereon adapted to relatively position the eye piece, and means for filling the space between the bushing and eye piece with molten metal.

16. Apparatus for positioning and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, the interior diameters ofwhich are larger than the exterior diameters of the bushings, including the combination of a support, a doweling member thereon adapted to support the bushing, another doweling member thereon adapted to relatively position the eye piece, and means for filling the space between the bushing and eye piece with molten metal, including a sprue nozzle opposed to said support and a closure arranged to cooperate with the sprue nozzle for closing the end of said space at the other end of the bushing.

17 Apparatus for positioning. and anchoring bushings in eye pieces, the interior diameters of which are larger than the exterior diameters of the bushings, including the combination of a support, a doweling member tiereon adapted to support the bushing, another doweling member thereon adapted to relatively position the eye piece, andnu-ians ior filling the space between the bushing and eye piece with molten metal, including a sprue nozzle opposed to said sinipert and a closure arranged to cooperate with the sprue nozzle for closing the end of said space at the other end of the bushing, said closure being also provided with doweling members for the bushing and eye piece.

18. The combination with a spring support, means for securing springs thereon, a positioning device connected with the support, and provided with, a bushing supporting member iii-fixed relation to the sup port, and in the eye of a spring when se mired to the support, and means for deliveriug molten metal under pressure into the spring eye about said bushing and retaining the same therein until hardened.

19. The combination with a spring support for leaf springs, means for securing such springs in fixed relation thereto, means for supporting bushings in the eyes of such springs in predetermined relation thereto and to the support, and means for filling the space between the bushing and the wall of the spring eye with molten. metal, in-

eluding connections for anchoring the sprue nozzle to the support.

20. In an apparatus for positioning and anchoring eye bushings in eye pieces bywa die casting operation, the combination with a clamping and doweling plate for closing one end of the cavity to be filled, of a sprue nozzle having a rounded surface provided with a tapered extension at the nozzle outlet, said plate having a recess to receive said nozzle, and an aperture at the base of the recess with which the nozzle outlet may register.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

0. C. WVEBER. 

